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Making homemade bread is a time-consuming process, especially when preparing dough that calls for yeast. The time it takes to let the dough rise properly often prohibits those who enjoy homemade bread from making it. However, a simple task that bread bakers can perform to cut back on preparation time is to make plenty of dough and freeze some of it for later use. Most bread dough will bake well after being frozen, and will retain the same tasty flavor as fresh bread dough. Once you learn how to freeze bread dough by following a few easy steps and tips, you can enjoy fresh, homemade bread as often as you like with less work and preparation time.

Community Q&A

You can freeze the rolls, unrisen, in the pan. Cover them tightly with both plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Then you'll just need to remove them, allow them to thaw and rise, and continue the baking process.

You knead the dough just before the first rise (fermentation), then punch it down and knead it the second time. Then you shape it as you would before your second raise (proofing). Then, instead of proofing the dough, you freeze it. You proof when it thaws or after it thaws in the refrigerator overnight. It can be proofed in a proof box or warm box straight out of the freezer. It will rise when it thaws if left out at room temperature.

After the first rise, yes, when you are fermenting the yeast and letting the gluten work, but not the second rise when you are proofing before the actual baking. If you are wanting brown and serve, you must bake it at a lower temperature and remove before it starts to brown. Then you can freeze that, thaw it out and brown it in the oven. Freezing the dough before the final proof then baking comes out close to making the dough fresh that day. Brown and serve is more like toasting bread-- not really worth it.

Yes, but remember some yeast will have expired during the freeze, so be sure to use extra yeast in the recipe if you want it to rise normally after thawing. After thawing (a slow thaw in a refrigerator overnight is worry-free), put the dough in the pan you will use for the baking and cover to do the 'second' rise, then bake as usual.

I don't see why not; many in-store bakeries have it shipped in that way. However, the article failed to mention that frozen bread dough does better in a freezer at -10 degrees rather than 0 degrees. It might be possible to dedicate a deep freezer to bread dough and get it close to -10 or get it modified so that it can.This will make it last much longer than three months and you won't need as much extra yeast.

Yes, but why would you want to take up the extra space and risk freezer burn on the top of the loaf, since it would be hard to wrap it tightly, forming the seal to the top of the dough rather than the top of the pan?

Tips

When learning how to freeze bread dough, consider preparing your dough with a flour that contains high levels of protein or added wheat gluten. This will help your frozen bread dough rise better when it is time to bake it.

For added convenience, try freezing loaf bread dough in the pan that you will be baking it in. Grease the pan first, put the dough in, and cover it tightly with aluminum foil or freezer wrap. When it's time to bake, thaw it first and allow it to rise, then put it in the oven and follow your recipe's baking instructions.

When freezing bread dough, adding a little extra yeast than your recipe calls for can also help ensure that the dough rises properly when the time comes to bake it.

You can freeze bread dough right after it rises without shaping it. However, if you choose to freeze your dough this way, keep in mind that you will need to shape it prior to baking once it is thawed. Shaping it before freezing bread dough saves a step later when it is time to bake it.

If you plan to freeze bread dough, use a slow action yeast to help with the rising process when you bake it. Sometimes, freezing bread dough can affect the properties of the yeast, and fast-action yeast is more likely to be affected than slow-action yeast.

Warnings

Do not allow your bread dough to over rise prior to freezing it. This can result in bread that is flat when you bake it.

Do not bake frozen bread dough right out of the freezer. Allow it to thaw and warm to room temperature first for the best results and to ensure that it will rise properly when baked.

Do not leave frozen bread dough in your freezer longer than 3 months. If you do, it could get freezer burn,[9] not rise properly or lose some of its flavor when baked.

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Co-authors: 6

Updated: July 16, 2019

Views: 226,645

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Nancy Stone

Jul 5, 2017

"I manage the kitchen for Vacation Bible School. I give the crew members a loaf of homemade bread for a "thank you" gift. Each year there seems to be more people who join my crew. I just do not have the time to bake enough bread for everyone that week. Freezing some ahead will be a big help."..." more

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Anonymous

Oct 29, 2016

"This is the best site to visit for all my questions. I rely on it for examples on how to do things or how things work. I love the fact that it has pictures along with basic and simple instructions and information. "..." more

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Batbara De Pasquale

Jun 12, 2017

"The info that bread flour would be better if it's frozen is good to know. I live alone and make bread often, so knowing this is great info. Thank you."..." more

Rated this article:

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Simone Free

Mar 4, 2017

"This is a perfect, step-by-step guide explaining the whole process. Great questions and the answers are excellent. Thank you so much."..." more

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Cynthia Crutchfield

Jan 7, 2017

"I could not recall if my mother and I would let yeast dough rise once, or if we put it in the freezer immediately after mixing."..." more

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Chris Ward

Apr 13, 2016

"Simple ideas and simple actions equal tried and true solutions. These steps are easy to accomplish."

MM

Mar Miks

Jun 17, 2016

"This is fantastic, as I can no longer find the frozen bread dough buns that I used to buy."

CP

Charlene Parry

Jul 3, 2017

"It answered my question about when in the bread process I need to freeze the dough."

Rated this article:

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Renee Bailey

Oct 2, 2016

"I was not aware you can freeze the dough for bread. I will definitely try it."